David Sibray
NEW MANCHESTER, W.Va. — Some say that the ghost of Judge John Hoke Reddick still haunts his grave, and that’s not hard to believe, given its remarkable nature. The judge had himself buried in two states—half in Virginia (now West Virginia) and half in Pennsylvania. Though the state boundary has shifted slightly west since he … Read more
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Hiking in West Virginia in winter can prove a transcendent experience. Nothing compares to a stroll through a wonderland of snow and frozen waterfalls. Even in low-lying valleys where snow seldom lingers, a walk through the sleeping landscape can be life-changing. Winter hiking in West Virginia also presents its own set of … Read more
THOMAS, W.Va. — The Allegheny Mountains in eastern West Virginia grow treacherous in winter—and hardly more so than along the western front of that range, which bears the brunt of blizzards coming off the Monongahela Valley. In 1885, twenty-year-old James B. Helmick came face-to-face with the savagery of the Alleghenies while hunting on Backbone Mountain. … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Guided hikes in nine state parks and natural areas in West Virginia are being hosted on January 1, 2024, as part of a nationwide outdoor recreation initiative instituted by America’s State Parks. Hailing the opportunity to start the new year with an outdoor adventure, Brett McMillion, director of the W.Va. Division of … Read more
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — What makes for a good arts community? Good arts communities are those in which affordable housing, entrepreneurial spirit, and the availability of arts venues—such as galleries and coffeehouses—are reversing economic downturn, according to John Villani, the author of “The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America.” “In places that got their start … Read more
SAINT ALBANS, W.Va. — Might Edgar Allen Poe have written his poem “The Raven” while visiting the Kanawha Valley? Though nothing’s been proven, the mansion in which Poe might have lodged is named Raven’s Court. Jim Mullooly, of Avella, Pa., once reported to the newspaper that on a visit to Georgetown, Pa., he once saw … Read more
CAMP CREEK, W.Va. — Only a few local historians may remember the obscure and chilling tale of Charles Anderson Mills, more infamously known in the neighborhood of Nubbins Ridge in Mercer County as “Likker Charlie.” A ruthless moonshiner who, on his deathbed, confessed to the violent murders of dozens of victims, Mills and two of … Read more
DAVIS, W.Va. — Nothing beats an old-fashioned ride on a sled, and one of the nation’s longest sled runs, at Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia, is confirmed to be the largest on the East Coast. As old-school as sledding may be, the park is attracting guests in record numbers, and officials are employing … Read more
MASONTOWN, W.Va. — The strange story of “the day they knocked a hole in the Cheat River” has been passed down for more than a century and is one of northern West Virginia’s obscure but enduring legends. Some historians have questioned whether the tale out of Preston County is historical or just astonishingly good. The … Read more
OAK HILL, W.Va. — West Virginians may need to turn to Congress to rescue historic landmarks that the National Park Service has slated for demolition in America’s newest national park, an alarmed state lawmaker says. Republican state delegate Elliott Pritt says it may be up to the state’s representatives in Congress to turn the tide … Read more
